Danny J. Wood, 75, died in Louisville, Ky. – far from Beverly, Mass.’s Ryal Side where he was raised – on June 27 after a long battle with chronic illnesses. He was surrounded by family. Among the many things he enjoyed: a good laugh; a good book; a cold drink; a plate of fried clams. Most of his life took place far from the North Shore. His first departure came at 16, when he set sail as a Sea Scout. Then, after graduating from Beverly High School in 1967, he enrolled in The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, where he served as the Executive Officer of Band Company before graduating in 1971. After stints teaching high school, he accepted a job in Saudi Arabia, where he spent much of the next four decades. He first worked at an airbase in the Hejaz Mountains before moving to Jeddah, where he later worked for Saudi Arabian Airlines as an English language instructor. The desert gave him the adventure he had been looking for, and he frequently took his jeeps deep into the wilderness alongside his faithful dog, Yossarian. Living with his wife and son in Jeddah in the 90s and early 2000s, Dan served as the head of the local American school’s PTO as well as the president of the Saudi Arabian Natural History Society. He also penned columns for the Saudi Gazette. His time overseas allowed him to travel, filling up passport after passport with stamps. No matter how far he strayed from Ryal Side, he never stopped talking about Beverly and his memories of taking skiffs into the harbor. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Diane, as well as his son Josh (Jenny) Wood and granddaughter Siobhan, all of Louisville, Ky. He is also survived by his brother D. Bruce Wood of Londonderry, N.H. as well as nieces, nephews, extended family and friends around the world. He is preceded in death by his parents William and Pauline Wood, as well as his brother William Wood, Jr. A service will be held on Wednesday, July 16 at 11 a.m. at Beverly’s Central Cemetery. A celebration of life will follow.